UNITED have been given a timely Premier League title warning from Spain.

Barcelona were unstoppable in La Liga up to last month. The Catalan giants had built up a 22-match unbeaten run in the league.

The formidable sequence had seen Pep Guardiola's rampant team forge a 12-point lead ahead of rivals Real Madrid in the Spanish league.

But Barca have lost their last three matches against Real Betis, Espanyol and Atletico Madrid, squandering nine title points while Real had a 100 percent return in the same period.

Madrid have now cut Barcelona's championship lead to just four points.

Reds boss Sir Alex Ferguson was recently hailed Barca for playing the best football in Europe. But out of the blue the gremlins have crept into the Spaniard's form and it is game on again in La Liga.

In England, Fergie's side are also compiling a redoubtable unbeaten Premier League streak.

The champions go to Newcastle tonight with their unbeaten run now stretching back 15 games. They have a four-point cushion at the top of the table after wins by both second and third placed Chelsea and Liverpool last night.

But Barca's unexpected collapse has highlighted the danger signs.

"It is a fair point about Barcelona," said Sir Alex Ferguson. "They have been playing Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday-Wednesday since January and they now have a four-point lead from a 12-point lead.

"For the first time this season they lost a game after being in front (against Atletico Madrid last weekend).

"There are plenty of warnings in football. You don't necessarily have to go and look at Barcelona. But you know if you take your foot off the pedal you can get a kick in the teeth."

Ferguson, however, is not expecting any of his squad easing down the gears.

Asked if any of his youngsters tasting success for the first time in the last two seasons might be complacent, Sir Alex replied: "They'd have one attempt at it and it would be the last!

"I think we have plenty of bodies in the dressing room who would come down on them. But there is no sign of that at the moment, I must say.

"The experience we have garnered over the years is also helping us. We don't panic. We very seldom panic.

"Even games we have won late on we have kept playing our football and been patient, against Stoke and Bolton for instance. It is not easy to do that when you are chasing titles.

"We have momentum at the moment. What is pleasing me most of all is that changing the team is not affecting us now.

"I remember in April 2005 going to Norwich and playing a weakened team and we lost 2-0.

"I remember saying to Carlos Queiroz afterwards that we were never doing that again. But this present squad seem to adapt to it quite easily.

"The consistency of form is not down to one XI and that is what is giving us a better chance. It is my best squad."